We already live overseas and it is NOT unusual to randomly book flights to yet other foreign countries and other unusual things.

But that should be your usual (purchasing pattern)Regardless of how unusual it is to someone who seldom leaves his own home town, and only then drives.

My purchasing patterns (transactions within various countries, airfare, trains, car rentals, cases of wine) might be unusual compared with Windowseat's for example.I never notify my CCs that I am traveling abroad any more, and I never have those purchases questioned.

But when a dormant card is suddenly used for several hundred dollars of purchases, I think to question the veracity of that, IS a system that is working.

While I chose to call the company (in my situation) - I could have handled it via email.